Chapter 66: Yes, I Want to Build a Road

York actually didn't quite understand why Mali wanted to build a road.

That was usually something only lords would consider, and they would often require merchants in the city to cooperate in paying for it.

Most importantly, the roads to be built were, without exception, all leading to those major trade hubs. Only then would the completed road attract more merchants to do business, thereby obtaining more tax revenue.

As for the merchants, they would of course also hope that the roads could be easier to travel on, but if you asked them to pay for a road alone, they would likely stare at you with wide eyes, wondering if you were crazy.

Not to mention that this road led to a remote, almost forgotten small village on the edge of the forest; what would happen even if it were built?

Mali was definitely not crazy; it was just that in his experience, a road was something you enjoyed early if you built it early.

So, the first time he returned to the Red Mist to rest, he had the villagers of Baimu Cun help him clear a dirt road in the Endless Forest.

He used it immediately after driving the heavy truck out of the Red Mist.

Now he planned to build another road to connect Baimu Cun and Yingzui City, and this time he had higher requirements for quality.

This meant the construction period might be very long, possibly lasting one or two years.

Mali had also thought for a long time and felt that it was better to start this matter early, especially considering that winter was almost over. Once the snow on the road started to melt, it would become inconvenient for the truck to drive, and it might even trigger mudslides.

Finding people to fix those road sections in advance would at least not affect traffic.

York took out paper and pen and calculated. "It's the slack farming season now, so labor isn't that expensive. At 40 Copper Keluns per person, for three hundred people, that's 120 Silver Shields a day, which is 36 Gold Eagles a month."

"If there are experienced craftsmen, it will be more expensive, but we need at least a few to speed up the progress."

"Hmm, there should be monsters along the way, but our numbers are large enough that we don't need to hire guards, but we need to purchase a batch of weapons and equipment. If we only need ordinary stones, we don't need to buy them from the quarry; there are plenty by the river. We need to sort them by size and hire carts to pull them over. Fine aggregate is a bit troublesome; I'll think of another way..."

A moment later, he finished the calculation and looked up again. "If you insist on building this road, you need to invest at least 45 Gold Eagles in the first month, and a little less later, 40 Gold Eagles will be enough. However, by February, spring plowing will begin."

"At that time, those laborers will also have to go home to farm. Hmm, perhaps we can try to hire some adventurers who can't find work, but the price might also go up. It shouldn't exceed 43 Gold Eagles at most..."

Mali also did a mental calculation. The money he had on hand should be enough to support a construction period of six or seven months. However, considering that the expenses for learning Alchemy were also not small, he definitely had to continue making money.

In fact, he had already been preparing for the next trade these days.

But unlike the Wealth Trial, this time no one provided him with goods; he needed to choose the commodities and destination himself, while also considering fuel consumption.

The diesel he carried on this trip totaled 6400 liters, including 800 liters in the main fuel tank, 400 liters in the auxiliary fuel tank, and 5000 liters of barrelled diesel.

So far, 1800 liters had been used, leaving 4600 liters. Once it was used up, he would have to return to the Red Mist to refuel.

Mali hoped to maximize the value of this diesel.

During this time, he basically went to the guild hall every day to gather information and chat with other merchants to find suitable money-making opportunities.

Most of the news coming back recently was related to the war on the front line. As the war broke out, not only iron ore and grain, but the prices of many commodities had risen to varying degrees.

The Jiadelan Gongguo originally had trade dealings with the Northern Empire, but now those trade routes were basically cut off.

The first to bear the brunt were tar and horses, both of which were major imports for the Jiadelan Gongguo.

Among them, tar was mainly used as an adhesive and also had a certain waterproof effect; from large ship splicing coatings to small arrow fixing, it was indispensable, and at the same time, it was also a medicine.

Horses went without saying; besides being commodities, they were also military supplies.

Now, merchants in the guild were discussing importing these two commodities from other places, but in this way, transportation costs would undoubtedly be much higher than before, and no one knew how long the war would last.

A round trip would take at least two or three months. If the two sides made peace after buying them, not only would they not make money, but they might even lose money.

Moreover, once the war started, lords everywhere would respond to the call and lead troops to the front line, and the local security situation might also deteriorate; this road would likely not be easy to travel.

However, for Mali, this was not a big problem.

Driving a heavy truck, he had an incomparable advantage in transportation costs compared to his peers, and his speed was several times that of an ordinary caravan. As for the increased danger along the way, he had also strengthened his firepower for this trip, and the overall situation was still within an acceptable range.

To make money, it was impossible not to take any risks.

Mali had already inquired about several sources of tar and had selected a target, preparing to set off early tomorrow morning.

Additionally, he didn't want to travel empty on the way there; he planned to haul some goods to sell to the towns along the way.

Mali was a bit distracted, but soon York's voice brought him back to reality. "I still don't suggest you build the road; this is clearly not a cost-effective deal."

"It's fine, just do as I say." Mali took out a money bag containing one hundred and thirty Gold Eagles.

"This is the cost for the first three months. If it's not enough, you can come to me again. Also..." He took out another Gold Eagle. "Are you free recently? I want to hire you as the supervisor for the road construction."

"But I still have work at the guild." A look of embarrassment appeared on York's face.

Mali glanced at his boots with holes and took out another Gold Eagle, throwing them together. "Now you don't. I asked them; the salary for a guild apprentice is only 2 Silver Shields a month, which is too little."

"Everyone went through it like this... I have nothing to complain about," York said.

"The Rose Alliance is already considered quite good; apprentices in many guilds don't even have a salary. After all, we have indeed learned a lot from excellent merchants like you."

"Do you have relatives here?" Mali remembered that guild apprentices seemed to be relatives of Rose Merchants and could be considered successors, although perhaps only one-tenth of them could truly become Rose Merchants.

"A distant uncle," York nodded. "But he is out most of the time and basically doesn't care about me."

"I'll go talk to President Helun and let you work for me first, so your work at the guild won't be delayed."

For an engineering project, a good supervisor was undoubtedly very important.

This was also the reason why Mali spent a lot of money to hire York; the boy could read and write, had a flexible mind, and was serious and responsible. Mali could rest assured leaving the project to him. ===== CHAPTER 67 =====